Fulgour said:
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Ergo viz ibid hence: The direction of the Swords
is what the artist felt best expressed her images
intuitive meanings: and we 'decide' for ourselves.
Not necessarily. There would have been more of a collaboration between Waite and Smith under Mathers' previously written instructions and by use of his papers (comments, treatise, etc...)
For example....
Wheel of Fortune - Sphinx holds sword leaning to the right side of the card indicating Chesed, reinforcing the card's attribution of Jupiter (Sphinx=Leo=VIII Strength=19th Path - connecting Chesed and Geburah, Chesed=Jupiter to the right of the path.)
Justice - Sword is in right hand, forming the letter Lamed in conjunction with the scales.
2 S - Swords imitate the paths from Yesod to Hod and Netzach, Reinforces significance of Moon in Libra.
4 S - Swords point to three Chakras (Head, Throat, Heart.) Masonically, the three places struck about on Hiram Abif
6 S - The two swords separated on the left form two crosses , which numerically total eight, and reinforces the attribution of Mercury (Hod=8=Mercury) in the signicance of Mercury in Aquarius.